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1842
city building being restored to former glory
ATTLEBORO
- Evelyn Silva knows the Academy Building on Sanford Street inside and
out.
When the historic structure was 105-years-old, it served the city as the
school department's administration offices and it's where she got her
first teaching job.
"I was a beginning teacher in 1947 and I was hired in this
room," she said pointing to a room during a recent tour of the 1842
structure that's leased by the city to the Attleboro Historic
Preservation Society for $1 a year.
Silva is retired from teaching now, but has taken on a new job as
president of the historic preservation society, and is leading the
effort to restore the building to its former glory.
Not much has been heard about the building, formally known as the East
Attleborough Academy, in recent years, but a lot's been done.
It
was accomplished thanks to a $50,000 grant written by society members
and awarded to the city in 2007. There have also been other generous
money donations and donations of time and skill, she said.
Society member and retired engineer Dick Potter said the aim first is to
fix the essentials - roof, siding, heating, electric - then worry about
the interior.
And that's exactly what's happened, so far.
A new roof was installed in 2008, along with new siding on three sides
of the building.
The siding was installed by volunteer carpenters from a carpenters union
in which former City Councilor Michael Sullivan was an official.
Sullivan arranged for the help.
Columns in the front were painted the same year.
Last year, new granite steps were installed. Expenses came out of the
grant.
A gas heating system was donated and installed last year by the
Attleboro Foundation at a cost of about $10,000.
The building has a new electric service and just last week the society
voted to go out for bid for a new front deck, front stair railing and
handicapped-accessible bathroom.
Silva credits Mayor Kevin Dumas with the success of the work, saying
he knows how to get the most out of every dollar.
The historic preservation society was formed in 1999 to save the
building, which has served as a school, school department offices and
city planning offices. It's been moved three times in its 168-year
history, Silva said.
The society's aim is to help preserve the city's important architecture
and other historical artifacts.
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